An Introduction to AVID:
The Road to College
The Mission of AVID
AVID’s mission is to close the
achievement gap by preparing
all students for college
readiness and success in a
global society.
What AVID Is

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AVID = Advancement Via Individual Determination
A direct support structure for students’ academic and
career success.

A structured, college preparatory system working
directly with schools and districts.

A schoolwide approach to curriculum and rigor adopted
by nearly 4,500 schools in 45 states and 15 countries.

A professional development program providing training
throughout the world.

AVID strategies support the Common Core State
Standards.
What AVID Isn’t

AVID isn’t a remedial program

AVID isn’t a free ride
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AVID isn’t a niche program

AVID isn’t a college outreach program
AVID at JFKHS
AVID began at JFKHS in 2007.
JFKHS is a certified (the only one in FUSD) AVID school.
The AVID Elective classes are offered at grade levels 9-12.
2014-2015 will be the first year when there will be two
class sections of AVID at each grade level (55-60 per
grade level) and over 200 students enrolled.
100% of our AVID Senior Seminar students have been
accepted into four-year colleges since the class of 2011.
The class of 2013 had over 100 college acceptances for 20
students.
Many JFKHS teachers and counselors have participated
in AVID training and are on the AVID Site Team.
The AVID Student Profile
Students With Academic Potential:
Average to high test scores
2.0-3.5 GPA (the “academic middle”)
College potential with support
Desire and determination
Meets One or More of the Following Criteria:
First to attend college
Historically underserved in four-year
colleges
Low income
Special circumstances
AVID Program Essentials
1. AVID student selection
2. Voluntary participation
3. AVID elective class offered during the school day
4. Rigorous course and study
5. Writing and reading curriculum
6. Inquiry to promote critical reading
7. Collaboration
8. Trained tutors
9. Data collection and analysis
10. District and school commitment
11. Active and interdisciplinary site team
A Sample Week in the AVID Elective
Daily or Block Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AVID Curriculum
Tutorials
AVID Curriculum
Tutorials
Binder Evaluation
Field Trips
Media Center
Speakers
Motivational
Activities
(within block)
Combination for
Block Schedule
AVID Curriculum Includes:
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Writing Curriculum
College and Careers
Strategies for Success
Critical Reading
Combination for
block schedule
AVID Tutorials Include:
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Collaborative Study Groups
Writing Groups
Socratic Seminars
AVID 9-12: WICOR
AVID 11-12: WICOR +
Essential Skills for College Readiness (ASFI)
*Research and Writing Assignments Focused on Leadership
Meeting the Challenge
To help all students do rigorous work and
meet or exceed high standards in each
content area we must help students:
Develop as readers and writers.
Develop deep content knowledge.
Know content specific strategies for
reading, writing, thinking and talking.
Develop habits, skills, and behaviors to
use knowledge and skills.
What is Academic Rigor?
Rigor is the goal of helping students
develop the capacity to understand
content that is complex, ambiguous,
provocative, and personally or
emotionally challenging.
Taking rigorous courses opens
doors!
Source: Teaching What Matters Most; Standards and Strategies for Raising
Student Achievement by Strong, Silver and Perini, ASCD, 2001.
Why AVID Works
Places AVID students in rigorous
curriculum and gives them the support
to achieve;
Provides the explicit “hidden curriculum” of
schools;
Provides a team of students for positive
peer identification; and
Redefines teacher’s role as that of
student advocate.
Ethnic Breakdown of AP Test-takers
AVID vs. National
2012-2013. Study of 33,219 AVID seniors.
Opening access to Advanced Placement courses for all students, regardless of ethnicity or economic
background, is essential to leveling the academic playing field. AVID students, who take many AP tests
every year, show greater ethnic diversity than AP test-takers do overall. The proportion of Latinos
taking AP exams is almost five times higher among AVID students than among U.S. students overall.
Completion of Four-Year College
Entrance Requirements
AVID students complete university entrance requirements at a much higher rate
than their non-AVID peers.
Percentage of Students Accepted into
Four-Year Colleges
AVID Senior Data Collection
2012-2013. n = 33,229
Next Steps
Questions
Moving Forward